여마법사 (The Enchantress)

The Enchantress is an operetta in two acts with music by Victor Herbert, lyrics by Harry B. Smith and a book by Fred de Gresac. To prevent spoiled Prince Ivan from ascending to his rightful throne, Zergovia's regent and war minister scheme to have him "enchanted" by an alluring opera singer, Vivien Savary, as marriage to a commoner would require him to abdicate. The head of the secret service helps to thwart the plan, as does Vivien, who falls for the prince; meanwhile, several princesses and an American heiress also vie for the prince's hand. The operetta premiered in Washington, D.C., and quickly moved to Broadway in October 1911, where it played for 104 performances, followed two years of touring in North America. Revivals followed in 1929 at The Muny and later off-off-Broadway and elsewhere. Historian Ken Wlaschin in the Encyclopedia of American Opera described the work as a "neglected comic opera" best known for the coloratura soprano aria "Art Is Calling for Me", which has become a frequently programmed recital piece recorded by sopranos like Beverly Sills and Kiri Te Kanawa. Historian Kurt Gänzl stated the song "To The Land of My Own Romance" was the hit song of the show during its performances in the 1910s, but that only the song "Art Is Calling for Me" has maintained enduring relevance in the modern era.